ABSTRACT
In all, 942 wells were drilled in West Virginia during 1947, or 127 more than in 1946. There were 976 permits to drill or deepen, 178 more than in 1946. There were 547 wells abandoned under permit, and 275 wells abandoned under original drilling permit numbers, or a total of 822. The total abandonments were 627 in 1946. Wells completed were: gas, 644; oil, 93; oil and gas, 25; storage et cetera, 9; dry, 171. The 1946 totals were: gas, 555; oil, 73; oil and gas, 36; storage et cetera, 3; dry, 148. Wells ranged in depth from 385 to 8,120 feet, compared with 300 to 8,410 feet in 1946. Total footage drilled (excluding original depths of wells deepened) was 2,570,198, compared with 2,317,101 feet in 1946. The average depth of wells (including original depths of deepened wells) was 2,819 feet, compared with 2,843 feet in 1946. The total initial gas produced was 506,672 MCF., compared with 670,621 MCF. in 1946. Range in size of wells, 10 to 18,151 MCF., compared with 10 to 19,673 MCF. in 1946. Total initial daily oil, 1,567 barrels, compared with 1,206 barrels in 1946. Range in size of oil wells, barrel to 380 barrels, compared with 1/20 barrel to 400 barrels in 1946. Number of wells drilling or completions unreported at end of year, 310, compared with 304 at end of 1946. Preliminary estimates of production for 1947: gas, 222,100,000 MCF.; oil, 2,599,000 barrels. Estimated number of producing wells at end of 1947: gas, 14,000; oil, 17,000. Table gives statistics by counties.
